About this project

$31,271

pledged of $30,000 goal

121

backers

GOAL:

We are raising $30,000 dollars to complete the feature length documentary film 'REM' which is currently in production. So far we have been making the film entirely using grant money raised from 'The creative industries fund' in Holland. We need the additional money to finish our two final shoots and to complete the post-production process.

BACKGROUND:

Rem Koolhaas is one of the most influential architects of modern times. He has won the 'Pritzker prize', the 'Johannes Vermeer award for architecture', the RIBA Gold medal, the 'Golden Bull' at the Venice biennale and the 'Best skyscraper of 2013 award'. Unlike most architects his work is not only limited to building. His books (SMLXL and delirious new york among others) are some of the most important architectural books ever published. He is also heavily involved in non architectural projects through the 'think tank' division of his office (AMO) projects of which include: the Prada runway shows, re-branding the European union and curating the 2014 Venice biennale.

CONCEPT:

Most architectural documentaries explore only the intellectual reasoning behind the aesthetic/design choices made by an architect. These films are usually made up of talking-head interviews interspersed with static, lifeless shots of empty structures.

'REM' is the first documentary to comprehensively explore the human conditions in and around Rem Koolhaas's buildings from a ground level perspective. The film not only reveals Rem's life and working methods from an unprecedented 'behind the scenes' perspective but the film gives the architecture greater meaning as the viewer witnesses the one thing that gives it a function and purpose - how it is used by people. The resulting film is not only visually spectacular but revealing and touching in a way not usually expected from an architecture documentary. The stories incorporated are not only that of Rem and his collaborators who work tirelessly all over the globe on projects that push the boundaries of imagination and engineering but the construction workers who physically put these structures together piece by piece, the inhabitants of the buildings who live every day surrounded by this dramatic architecture, a homeless man who shelters daily in the Seattle library and describes the building's free internet and access to musical instruments as a "lifeline" that "gives him hope for the future," a free-runner (aka parkour) who uses the ambiguous surfaces of the Porto Concert Hall interchangeably; running across and flipping off wall, ceiling and floor alike.

VIDEO LINKS:

These links contain a few rough video clips that give deeper understanding of the concept, also a Higher-resolution version of the trailer.

Risks and challenges

Once the last two planned shoots are completed REM will head into post-production: Editing, sound, color correction, musical scoring etc..
As with any film this is far from the end of the road, or hard work, in fact many films that manage to finish filming never actually see the light of day because they falter during the post-production phase. A common reason for this is that they find it impossible to carve out an audience for the piece.
Unlike these films REM is already part of the psyche of the architecture world (as you can see by clicking the press links in the 'Project description' section above.) Because of this positive coverage there are many film festivals and distributors already interested in the film, this guarantees it will be seen by many people in many countries once it is completed.

FAQ

Support this project

Select this reward

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

Online access to an exclusive behind the scenes journal that will show you the progress of the film and how your donation money is being spent, and will also give you the chance to comment and give encouragement, criticism or suggestions directly to the filmmakers.
PLUS A group shout-out on the film's facebook page the same day of your donation.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

All of the aforementioned rewards
PLUS an 'associate producer' credit**.
PLUS the chance to submit 1 question for Rem Koolhaas which will be asked to him during a special interview that will be filmed, edited and then released online with a "Questions by" credit for you. You will also receive a DVD copy of this special interview.

** please be advised that this 'associate producer' credit is purely honorary in nature and does not entitle the holder to the rights usually associated with an 'associate producer' credit.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

All of the aforementioned rewards PLUS a 'Co-Executive Producer' credit in the film's credits
(please be advised that this credit is purely honorary in nature and does not entitle the holder to the rights usually associated with an 'executive producer' or 'co-executive producer' credit.)